Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson, credit: National Trust
I spent the weekend reading books off my own shelves, bouncing back and forth between High Wages by Dorothy Whipple and The Harold Nicolson Diaries: 1907-1964. While High Wages was undoubtedly my most successful Whipple encounter to date, the diaries were what delighted me most. I had enjoyed what I had read of Nicolson’s diaries and letters in the past (he shows up frequently in history books focused on wartime Britain) so was looking forward to this but enjoyed it even more than I had expected to.
I plan to write more about this wonderful book soon but for now I just wanted to share a snippet that I found charming and which reminded me of A.A. Milne’s wonderful “Margery” pieces from his Punch days. It is a letter written by Harold Nicolson to his infant grandchild, Juliet Nicolson, shortly after her christening (July 31, 1954):
Now that you have been admitted into the Church and had a paragraph all to yourself in the Daily Telegraph, you should be able, if not to read, then at least take in, private letters.
I thought it noble of you to remain quiescent while your godfather and godmother promised such glum things on your behalf. But I did not think it noble of you to sneak when I gave you a silver spoon and you went and bashed your own eye and forehead with it. It is foolish, in any case, to bash oneself with spoons. But it is evil for a girl about to be blessed by a bishop to sneak about her grandfather. You did not see the look your mother gave me. You did not realise the deep suspicion with which your nurse thereafter regarded me. (What an ass that woman was, flattering you like that; and how weak of you to respond with a grin to her blandishments.)
…
And will you tell your mother that I really believe that you will have large eyes as lovely as she has and a character as sweet as hers, and that I really will not spoil you when you reach the age of 2, since I detest spoiled children. And even if I do spoil you, I shall do so surreptitiously in order to avoid a look from her like the spoon-look.
Wouldn’t you love to have a grandfather who could write such letters? The importance of and thankfulness for a close-knit family is something Nicolson mentions throughout his life, whether he is thinking about his relationship with his parents, with his wife (Vita Sackville-West), or with his two sons and, eventually, their children. It was so nice to read an interview with Juliet Nicolson and hear how fondly she remembers him.
What a darling letter! It is not at all how I expected Harold Nicholson to be, and makes me keener to reach down the volume of letters/diaries I have of his.
I’m also intrigued to hear your report on High Wages as, though I enjoyed it, I thought it vastly inferior to the other Whipple novels I’ve read…
I would love to know how you expected Nicolson to be. There are far too few family letters in this book (except to Vita, there are lots of those) but the ones that are there are quite wonderful. I loved some of the ones written to his parents when he was a young man and then later ones written to his sons.
For some reason I expected him to be stuffy and political and dull. How wrong I was!
That letter is priceless, just priceless.
Agreed!
Aw, that is a really dear letter. Makes me want to check out Nicolson’s diaries too! Diaries and letters can be very hit or miss — even the brilliantest people are not always at their best in letters, especially if you don’t know the people they’re writing to and about.
The political details definitely outweigh the family ones here but, for me, that was a perfect mix, making me appreciate the family letters and reflections all the more.
I’m adding myself to the list of those who now want to read his letters and diaries. I am still smiling over the sneaking and the spoon look.
Glad to have brought it to your attention!
I am so envious of her letters from grandfather! Diaries are interesting to read. I’m working slowly thru L.M. Montgomery’s. it’s just like sitting with her and listening to her talk.
Oh, LMM’s diaries are fabulous!
Looks like I will have to avail myself of the the Diaries of Harold Nicholson!
You will!
[…] by his son – and Juliet’s father – Nigel Nicolson) and was especially charmed by a letter he wrote to the newborn Juliet. One of the pleasures of A House Full of Daughters has been getting to see that relationship […]